So Many Broken Controllers
There are difficult levels, and then there are levels that make you want to throw your controller out the window in a fit of rage. These are the levels that have made me question my sanity. There are plenty of levels out there that have tormented players with their difficulty, but these are the ones that stick out the most in my memory.
5. "Tubular"-Super Mario World
Tubular in Super Mario World is a test in being aware of one's surroundings. The goal, like in every Mario game, is to get to the goal post at the end of the level. Here's the catch: there's no ground. To get to the end, Mario must collect specially timed balloon power-ups and float across the level while avoiding everything. This isn't very simple considering the level is crammed with as many enemies and projectiles as possible, and one hit from any of these things meant certain death no matter what.
4. "Death Egg Zone"-Sonic the Hedgehog 2
It's one thing to fight two bosses in a row, but its another thing to fight two in a row without taking any damage. That's exactly what is required in Death Egg Zone, the last level in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. There are no rings in the entire level so one hit will spell the end for Sonic. The level starts out with a difficult battle against Silver Sonic, Dr. Robotnik's robotic version of Sonic. Silver Sonic has all the same moves as Sonic and more. If Silver Sonic is somehow defeated, Dr. Robotnik will jump into a giant mechanical version of himself that launches spiked arms at Sonic and flies around the area trying to crush the blue hedgehog. Due to the complete absence of rings in this level, every attack from Robotnik is a potential death and an attack from Sonic must be strategically planned. This is one of the most tense levels in any Sonic game.
3. "Our Mutual Friend"-Half-Life 2:Episode 2
The striders in Half-Life 2 are possibly the hardest things to kill in that game. It takes a huge amount of willpower and rockets just to take down one. Taking on an army of these things requires almost superhuman effort. Thankfully we have Gordon Freeman. Striders are basically giant robot-alien bugs that tear things to shreds with their laser turrets and disintegrate everything with an enormous laser cannon.
A big skirmish takes place towards the end of Half-Life 2, where Gordon has to kill three of these things with a rocket launcher, and that is a long and drawn out process. That battle pales in comparison to the all out stider invasion that occurs at the very end of Half-Life 2: Episode 2 where Gordon has to drive around in his dune buggy and basically kill an army of striders single-handed. He has some help from the rebels, but they're basically cannon fodder and don't really help to stop anything. To make matters worse, these striders are accompanied by hunters, which are mini-striders with huge tasers.
Things are made a little easier this time around with the help of a sticky bomb that can be shot onto the striders and then detonated. It's incredibly important not to miss, though, because it means having to go back and grabbing another bomb which wastes valuable time in saving the rebellion's rocket. Getting through this section is an impressive feat, but whoever can get the achievement for saving all of the buildings is a pro.
2. "Doing Things The Hard Way"-VVVVVV
VVVVVV is known for its weird name and for being incredibly difficult. It's normal to die often in this game, but if you want to go out of your way to make the death counter skyrocket, you can go after the "shiny trinkets" that are scattered throughout the game. These trinkets are specially placed in the most difficult-to-reach areas. The most notorious is the trinket found in "Doing Things The Hard Way", which probably gives you the biggest middle finger in all of video games. The trinket is found on the other side of the tiniest block in the game, but the catch is that it is just tall enough to have to jump over to get to the trinket.
Instead of jumping, though, you have to flip onto the ceiling, and the closest ceiling just happens to be way out of the way at the end of the most spiked-filled rooms ever. The process of obtaining the trinket is a test in patience, skill, reflexes, and memorization. The process may be infuriating, but the pay-off is oh, so sweet.
1. "Through the Fire and the Flames"-Guitar Hero III
Learning how to play guitar can be difficult. Mastering the guitar takes years of practice and dedication that most humans don't even bother with, which is why I am able to settle on a simulation. Guitar Hero had always been fun for the casual, "wanna-be" rock stars, and challenging enough for the hardcore gamers. Guitar Hero III decided to take things to the next level in terms of difficulty, by adding the most undeniably difficult songs to date.
The single-player mode ends with songs by Slayer, Metallica, Iron Maiden and a notoriously difficult guitar battle with the devil. You would think that that's where the game peaks in difficulty. Well, beating the single-player mode unlocks the hardest song in all of Guitar Hero, "Through the Fire and the Flames" by Dragonforce. "Through the Fire and the Flames" is an eight-and-a-half minute long power metal anthem that consists of nothing but ridiculous shredding. No game has ever made my hand cramp up so bad, or made me want to take a plastic guitar to my television than this one. The worst part is that unlike every other entry in this list, there is no checkpoint of any kind, so if too many mistakes are made, it's time to start over from the beginning.
That is my list of the most difficult levels ever. If you think I'm a wuss, and know of even harder levels, let me know in the comments.
2. "Doing Things The Hard Way"-VVVVVV
VVVVVV is known for its weird name and for being incredibly difficult. It's normal to die often in this game, but if you want to go out of your way to make the death counter skyrocket, you can go after the "shiny trinkets" that are scattered throughout the game. These trinkets are specially placed in the most difficult-to-reach areas. The most notorious is the trinket found in "Doing Things The Hard Way", which probably gives you the biggest middle finger in all of video games. The trinket is found on the other side of the tiniest block in the game, but the catch is that it is just tall enough to have to jump over to get to the trinket.
Instead of jumping, though, you have to flip onto the ceiling, and the closest ceiling just happens to be way out of the way at the end of the most spiked-filled rooms ever. The process of obtaining the trinket is a test in patience, skill, reflexes, and memorization. The process may be infuriating, but the pay-off is oh, so sweet.
1. "Through the Fire and the Flames"-Guitar Hero III
Learning how to play guitar can be difficult. Mastering the guitar takes years of practice and dedication that most humans don't even bother with, which is why I am able to settle on a simulation. Guitar Hero had always been fun for the casual, "wanna-be" rock stars, and challenging enough for the hardcore gamers. Guitar Hero III decided to take things to the next level in terms of difficulty, by adding the most undeniably difficult songs to date.
The single-player mode ends with songs by Slayer, Metallica, Iron Maiden and a notoriously difficult guitar battle with the devil. You would think that that's where the game peaks in difficulty. Well, beating the single-player mode unlocks the hardest song in all of Guitar Hero, "Through the Fire and the Flames" by Dragonforce. "Through the Fire and the Flames" is an eight-and-a-half minute long power metal anthem that consists of nothing but ridiculous shredding. No game has ever made my hand cramp up so bad, or made me want to take a plastic guitar to my television than this one. The worst part is that unlike every other entry in this list, there is no checkpoint of any kind, so if too many mistakes are made, it's time to start over from the beginning.
That is my list of the most difficult levels ever. If you think I'm a wuss, and know of even harder levels, let me know in the comments.
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